Foul line signal for bowling alleys



Aug. 13, 1940. w. G. JACKSON 2,211,253

FOUL LINE SIGNAL FDR BOWLING ALLEYS Filed Aug. 14, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet l I In UrCniOT N 32745 tfaa'kamz V, Attorneys Aug. 13, 1940. w. e. JACKSON FOUL LINE SIGNAL FOR BOWLING ALLEYS Filed Aug. 14, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor l/fgfJaaJzs'on A itorneys 13, 1940- w. G. JACKSON 2,211,268

FOUL LINE SIGNAL FOR BOWLING ALLEYS Filed Aug. 14, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Inventor A tiomeys Patented Aug. 13, 1940 UNiTED STATES PATENT (lFFiCE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to foul-line signals for bowling alleys, and has for the primary object the provision of a device of this character which will automatically display a signal whenever a .players foot slides on or over the foul-line of an alley and is so arranged that when one or more alleys are in use the alley on which the foul is committed may be detected, thereby permitting ithe attendant to locate and warn the particular (player of committing the foul, the signal on the alley where the foul is committed remaining in operation until manually stopped by the attendant.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a foul-line member which provides a mounting for the signal control switches, the latter being so arranged that if a ball contacts any one of the switches the signal of the alley will not be operated, while said signal of said alley will be actuated if a persons foot slides onto the foul-line.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

For a complete understanding of my invention, reference is to be had to the following description and acompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a top plan view illustrating a group of alleys equipped with foul-line signals constructed in accordance with my invention.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view showing the mounting of signals on a pair of alleys.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary top plan view illustrating one of the foul-line members and the switch operating element.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional View showing the contacts of the switches located within the foul-line member.

Figure 5 is a bottom plan view with a portion of the strip removed to illustrate the contacts of the switches and the switch operating element.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view showing the contact strip member and the switches.

Figure 7 is a transverse sectional view of the foul-line member showing clearly one of the switch operating elements.

Figure 8 is a perspective view illustrating a switch spring.

Figure 9 is a perspective View illustrating a switch contact.

Figure 10 is a diagrammatical view showing a wiring diagram for one of the signals and the switches for said signal.

Re erring in detail to the drawings, the numeral 5 indicates a group of bowling alleys of a conventional construction and now in common use. These alleys are usually divided by partitions G and ball troughs i. In adapting the present invention to a group of alleys the electric signal "lamps 8 are supported on brackets S in pairs. The brackets are mounted on every other partition of the group of alleys, as clearly shown in Figure 1, so that a signal lamp will be arranged adjacent each alley. Also in alley construction it is required to provide a foul-line for the purpose of a warning to the player not to slide onto the alley proper from the position of play. It

has been customary to mark this foul-line in various ways. However, in the present invention it is contemplated to employ a. foul-line strip ill which is set into a groove formed in the alley 20 with the top face of the foul-line strip flush with the playing surface of the alley. The securing or the foul-line strip in the groove can be in any well known manner so that it can be easily removed should adjustment or repairs be neces- 25 sary.

As the signals and foul-line strips are of identical construction it is believed only necessary to describe in detail one foul-line strip and its signal.

The foul-line strip has a longitudinally extending chamber H which extends from end to end of the strip and also formed in said strip is a plurality of spaced pockets l2 which communicate with the chamber H and further the 1 strip is provided with a series of slots I3 communicating with the chamber l! and arranged in alignment with the pockets. Pivotaliy mounted within the slots I3 are switch-operating plates is, the pivots therefor being indicated by the character l5 and in the form of a conductor rod providing an electric connection between said plates. The upper ends of the plates are rounded, as shown at E6, and are disposed slightly above the top face of the foul-line strip. The position- 45 ing of the rounded ends of the plates slightly above the foul-line strip will permit the plates to be contacted by a players foot if the foot should slide onto the foul-line strip and thereby bring about pivotal movement of the plates. 0

The plates are further provided with notches ll engaged by springs 48 to normally hold said plates in circuit-breaking position. Contacts i9 coact with the plates in forming electric switches. The spring contacts include eyes 20 to reis negative of the circuit.

- nected to the electromagnet 24.

ceive fasteners 2| for securing the contacts in place within the foul-line strip and also for connecting conductor wires thereto which form a part of an electric circuit for the signal lamp.

It will be seen that the foul-line strip contains a plurality of switches including the switch operating plates l4 arranged at a selected distance apart so that should a ball roll over the foul-line strip it will only engage with one of the switch operating plates. The wiring of the switches to the signal light is such that in order to complete the circuit to the signal lamp or light two of the switches must be operated, that is, two of the switch operating plates must be simultaneously engaged and rocked on their pivots and as the contact of a ball when passing over the foul-line strip is so slight it will be impossible for the ball to engage more than one switch operating plate, consequently obviating any possibility of the signal lamp being illuminated by a ball. However, when a persons foot passes onto the foul-line strip the foot will engage at least two of the switch operating plates bringing about actuation of a pair of switches necessary to complete the circuit to the signal lamp and consequently bring about the illumination thereof so that the foul committed can be easily detected by the attendant.

The switches for convenience of describing an electric circuit are indicated generally by the character 22. No claim is made to the wiring of the switches to the signal lamp as the switches may be connected to the signal lamp in several different wiring systems. In the present showing in the drawings a simple wiring arrangement has been provided and which will now be described in detail.

The signal lamp 8 is connected into an electric circuit 19' consisting of electric leads 2i! and 2|. The lead 20 is positive While the lead 2! Connected in the lead 20 is a magnetic operated switch 22 consisting of an electromagnet 2 a pivoted switch arm 25 spring influenced into a circuit breaking position by a spring 26. To close the circuit ii) of the signal lamp it is necessary that the electromagnet be energized which is brought about by the actuation of any pair of the switches 22 and as before stated, the circuit for said switches to the electromagnet 24 may be carried out in various wiring systems. As shown in the drawings, the circuit for the electromagnet includes a positive conductor 21, a negative conductor 23 and a third conductor indicated by the character 29. The conductors 21 and 29 are con- The conductors 28 and 29 are connected to every other switch by conductors 39 and the switches or plates thereof are connected together by the conductor rod i5. With this wiring arrangement as described for the electromagnet 24 in order to energize the latter it is necessary that two of the switches 22 be closed simultaneously otherwise the circuit to the magnet will be broken. The switches 22 being of the normal open type requiring manual influence for the closing thereof. It will be seen that when two of the switches 22 are manually closed by the foot of the player engaging with the plates M of said switch-es the flow of current will be from the positive conductor 21 through the electric magnet and the closed switches to the positive conductor 28 by passing through certain of the conductors 30. The energization of the magnet 24 closes the switch 22' and brings about illumination of the signal lamp 8. As the switch arm 25 moves into circuit-closing position it is engaged by a pivoted catch 34 thereby keeping the signal lamp 8 illuminated. The catch 34 is of the gravity actuated type and associated therewith is an electrom-agnet 35 included in an electric circuit 36 consisting of a positive conductor 31 and a negative conductor 33. The positive conductor includes a manually operated switch 39 normally occupying a circuit break ing position and requiring the manual actuation thereof to complete the circuit to the magnet 35 to release the catch 35 from the switch arm 25 to permit the latter to move into circuitbreaking position and thereby rend-er the signal 8 inoperative. The purpose of this arrangement is to permit the circuit of the signal 8 to remain closed after once being closed until it is desired for this signal to be rendered inoperative by the attendant who actuates the switch 39 to energize the magnet 35 and release the catch from the switch arm 25 which automatically breaks the circuit under the influence of the spring 26. i

As shown in the drawings the partition 6 may be channeled, as at M), to accommodate conductors of the electric circuit described and the switches 39 for the various alleys may be located at the pit-end of said alleys so that the pin-boys may operate said switches or if desired, the switches 39 may be located at some other convenient place with respect to the alleys so that the attendants in charge may operate said switches.

The foul-line strip is preferably provided with a removable portion so as to expose the contacts of the switches within the chamber or groove thereof.

It is believed that the foregoing description when taken in connection with the drawings will fully set forth the advantages of my invention to those skilled in the art to which such a device relates so that further detailed description will not be required.

What I claim is:

A signal switch for bowling alleys comprising a foul line strip having arranged longitudinally thereof a chamber extending from one end of said strip to its opposite end, said strip being provided with a series of spaced pockets having communication with the chamber, said strip having a series of slots opposite the pockets and extending from the chamber through one face of said strip, switch operating plates pivotally mounted in said slots and extending outwardly of the strip and extending through the chamber into said pockets and provided with notches, contacts to enact with the switch plates and located in the chamber, spring elements mounted in the chamber and engaging in the notches to normally sustain the plates disengaged from the contacts, said plates having the exposed ends thereof rounded and spaced a selected distance apart to prevent a ball rolling over the strip from engaging with more than one of said plates during the passing of said ball over said strip and said spacing of said plates being such that a persons foot sliding over said strip will simultaneously engage with two or more of said plates and impart pivotal movement thereto for engaging said pivoting plates with the contacts associated therewith.

- WILLIAM G. JACKSON. 

